Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with bars

Good bars in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Conrad Cornelius o'Donald o'Dell — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 09:52:53 -0800

Seeking a good bar or bars in Williamsburg, Brooklyn for this Saturday night. We're a group of about eight (for a decidedly non-rowdy bachelor party), and we'll be wrapping up dinner at Cubana Socíal (N. 6th & Wythe) at around 10:30 or so. We'd love to head to a place somewhere within reasonable walking distance that's fairly low key, not overpriced, not terribly loud, and (this is the holy grail, right?) not super-crowded. I'd be grateful for any recommendations. Thank you!

Eh, just a beer actually.

backseatpilot — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 06:06:40 -0800

Let's say you're in an unfamiliar area and walk in to a bar you have never been in before. You appreciate a nice cocktail, but don't know anything about this bar's bona fides. What do you ask for? I often find myself traveling and in a situation where I would like to go in to a bar and order something nice to drink, but if the bar or bartenders aren't up to snuff I'd rather just skip it and order a beer. I need a test to quickly determine whether or not this random bar is worth ordering drinks at or whether I should stick to whatever the bartender can easily pour into a glass.

If there's a particular ingredient that bars that don't really do cocktails would not normally stock, that could be a good hint. Or maybe a drink that's pretty classic but the bartender is unsure how to make it. Or something else?

Bars in Boston that play the A's game?

LemonGardot — Sat, 13 Apr 2013 14:05:59 -0800

Hi MeFi, A friend is trying to find a bar/place in Boston that is playing the A's game (or is an Oakland A's bar)...I know, I know...most are just playing the Red Sox, but you are all the intelligentsia of what's around, so figured I'd ask you! Thanks a lot!

Looking for awesome restaurants,bars and fun things to do in New Orleans

Afroblanco — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 13:37:59 -0800

My girlfriend and I are going to New Orleans for Jazz Fest later this month. Although we'll spend a fair amount of time at the festival, we'd like to spend some time exploring NOLA itself. Looking for awesome restaurants, bars and fun things to do in New Orleans First on the agenda is food. We already have plans to visit Commander's Palace, Central Grocery, Cafe DuMonde, and Brannan's. But for the rest of our meals, we're looking for delicious, authentic food that any local would be proud of. Totally down w/ "hole in the wall" places and dives. Cajun, Creole, Soul Food, BBQ, seafood, it's all good.

Definitely on the lookout for quality, non-touristy bars and hangout spots. Any place that I could only find in New Orleans and nowhere else.

Also just looking for cool things to do in general. We plan on doing a walk around the Garden District, checking out some jazz at Preservation Hall and touring some of the historic graveyards. What are some other cool things to check out? We're really into taking long walks, and we'll probably want to piece together a walking tour of sorts. Any areas (other than the French Quarter and Frenchmen St.) we should include?

Finally, any advice for Jazz Fest or visiting New Orleans in general will be welcome. For example, we'd like to get around by foot and public transportation. Is this a bad idea? (we've got shuttle tickets to get to/from the festival) We're staying in the French Quarter, dunno if it makes a difference.

Evening birthday ideas in Brooklyn?

cheeserk — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 08:29:14 -0800

What's a good place for a Saturday evening laid back birthday get-together in Brooklyn? My lady friend and I are going to be celebrating our birthdays in Brooklyn in a couple of weeks along with about 10 (give or take a few) friends on a Saturday evening, probably around 8 p.m. I'm not that familiar with the area and am looking for ideas for a place where we can have a few drinks in a fairly laid back setting. An ideal situation would be one in which folks can dress casually and join us at a place with a decent beer selection that isn’t so full it’s only standing room (tricky on a Saturday, I know). Music is good, but we’re not looking for a club setting. We're staying in Park Slope, so some place near there is ideal (but it doesn't have to actually be Park Slope) for the Saturday evening get-together. If there are snacks, that’s also good but it’s not absolute must. Thanks!

I guess we are technically on an island.

superfluousm — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 12:03:51 -0800

Give me your recommendations for tiki bars in NYC. A friend and I want to try all of NYC's tiki bars/lounges in 2013, notable or otherwise. We're aware of and have visited a couple of the well-known ones, but I know there are ones we're missing that have a low Internet profile.

Internet searches have been helpful to a point, but also raise the specter of bars that had a short lifespan and are now closed. Rather than continue to read listicles from 2010 and get my hopes up about a bar only to find it's been closed for a year and a half, I'd love your recommendations.

What we're looking for:
- A strong atmosphere is a must. We're open to lots of different moods here (like Otto's Shrunken Head midcentury-tiki-meets-punk vibe) but we're not looking for bars that serve drinks with umbrellas and are otherwise straight down the middle.
- Upscale is fine, divey is great. Loud and quiet, scene-y and laid back are all fine. We just want to go and have some drinks and hang out.
- We'll go anywhere in the five boroughs.

What we're not looking for:
- A beach bar atmosphere that's more East Coast/New England/Hamptons-esque. We're specifically looking for Trader Vic's-style tiki and variations on that particular theme.
- Reunion in the west 40s was okay, but a little more generically surf bar than what we're looking for.

Bars we've already been to or already have on the list:
- Otto's Shrunken Head, as previously mentioned
- Painkiller
- Zombie Hut

Thanks!

Where do all the cool kids in NYC Polka?

Bengston — Sun, 03 Feb 2013 21:37:59 -0800

I have a friend who grew up going to polka festivals and said she would be willing to teach me, so where can two people in their mid 20's go to polka in NYC without standing out like a sore thumb?
Are there dedicated polka bars? Just polka nights? I have no experience with this and don't even know what to look for. Ideally this would happen sometime during the weekend in either Manhattan or Brooklyn but would be willing to go to Queens or do something during the week. I am ok with dive bars and honestly I think it could be kind of funny if we were the only young people there as long as the record didn't scratch as soon as we walked through the door. Maybe there are even some really cool young polka joints, who knows, its NYC.

Chicagoans: which bars are good for groups?

picopebbles — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 06:26:25 -0800

My Chicago nonprofit is putting together a series of social events for our amazingly wonderful volunteers, including some bar nights. Our usual venue for such revelry recently reconfigured its space and is less group-friendly now, so we are on the hunt for great new places. Where should we explore? All suggestions are welcome, but we're especially interested in places that:

- Can accommodate a group of about 40 in some kind of designated space (separate room, etc.)
- Are near public transportation (bus is OK, El is even better)
- Have food as an option, but not a requirement
- Will let us reserve space for free or cheap

We're based in River North, but are neighborhood-agnostic.

Thank you! :)

NYC bars/restaurants that don't pay their workers via tips?

suedehead — Sun, 06 Jan 2013 07:35:25 -0800

Are there any restaurants or bars in NYC that pay their workers with proper, decent wages, rather than with tips? I've always been against the pay-employees-lower-than-minimum-wage-and-let-them-earn-tips system that the US continues to support. After seeing this image via a post on Reddit, I started thinking pretty hard about trying my best to support a better system.

I'm currently traveling abroad in a place where tips rarely exist, whether in restaurants or bars or anywhere else. As a result, I can be (relatively) confident that the workers are being paid with regular, stable wages, rather than leaving the worker's wages up to the fickle attitudes and moods of each individual customer.[1] Not only is this unstable for the worker, it also creates a pretty class-based system where the customer feels like he/she is "rewarding" the worker for 'good service'. I live in New York, which is restaurant/bar central, and thus also want to support businesses that feel the same way.

I'm therefore looking for places that don't accept tips, or don't pay their workers with primarily tips.

Obviously places like a food cart or a to-go-coffee shop, where tips are optional rather than 'semi-mandatory' don't really count. I am looking for, say, a sit-down restaurant that always has a mandatory service charge, no matter the size of the group. But any place that has exceptionally good working/labor practices is welcomed also!

Thanks, AskMe!

1. Of course, the question of whether or not the workers' wages are high enough is another question entirely.

Quiet (not just empty) bar in Philadelphia?

brackish.line — Sun, 30 Dec 2012 19:43:06 -0800

Can you recommend a quiet (but not simply empty) bar in Philadelphia? My gf and I have trouble talking and hearing over the music at most places. If you've ever been to Burp Castle in NY you know what my ideal bar is like (monk costumes optional). Good craft beer selection is a plus, as is the availability of hard cider. We live in West Philly but would welcome recommendations in any neighborhood.

For reference, Local 44 has a good selection but is usually too loud.

Need a place to watch football with kids and beer!

repoman — Sat, 29 Dec 2012 10:04:42 -0800

I need a kid friendly place in Chicago to watch the Bears game. Party of 4 adults and 5 kids (ages 11-13) with only one person caring about the game (12 year old boy who is crazy about the Bears and is coming from Portland, OR.) So yeah, good bloody Mary's a plus and something for the other kids to do. Was thinking of Guthries on Addison? I guess downtown is preferable but not a deal breaker. Thanks!

Where to watch election results in Berkeley?

toomuchkatherine — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 19:49:26 -0800

Anybody have a good idea where to watch the election tomorrow in Berkeley or North Oakland? A bar or otherwise festive atmosphere is great, but we want to be able to see and hear the TV, too. Bonus points if they have an actual map that they'll update, a blackboard where they'll keep track of the CA ballot initiatives, or anything like that.

Newly Single, New Neighborhood In PDX. Best Places?

Mr Ected — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 22:37:31 -0800

New Neighborhood in Portland OR! New to me, anyway. I could use some help! I now live downtown. What bars, pubs, etc, are great for a casual first date? I'm in my late 30s if that helps. And as a secondary question, are there any great spots for actually meeting women?

Any homey bars in Boston or Cambridge?

FatRabbit — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 11:48:44 -0800

I'm a recent transplant and need a new local haunt. Does anyone know of any good homey bars in the Boston or Cambridge area? For the past four years I lived in Baltimore, my main hang out was The WindUp Space i really knew the people there and made a lot of friends. I have yet to be able to find a suitable landing pad in Boston or Cambridge. So far I like the Squealing Pig and the Druid. What are your favorite hangouts where you get to know the people around you and possibly also offer some zany events? Extra points for things in Brookline, Fenway, and Longwood or Inman, Central, and Harvard Squares.

Help me find a debate bar in NY

Hurst — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 12:52:06 -0800

[NYC Filter]: Suggest me a bar to watch the presidential debate tonight! So I just moved to NYC and my temp housing doesn't have a TV, so if anyone could suggest a bar which will show the debates for sure (with volume) I'd appreciate it! Manhattan/Brooklyn all the same.

Bonus points for good food/reasonable beer prices. Thanks!

I didn't know you could stuff so much cheese into a room this size!

zombieApoc — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 10:09:56 -0800

Minneapolis bars filter - needed: one smallish private party room with audio & video capabilities at a bar in Minneapolis. We are a small (<20) group of b-movie enthusiasts that would like to begin enjoying our films as a group in a reserved room at a local bar. So now the question is "which bar?"

requirements:
1) The rental should be free or fairly cheap (some have quoted us $250 + drinks and food, which is unacceptable)
2) Smallish room to reserve (like I said, we're less than 20, so I doubt a joint with a 60-100 person room will want to reserve it to us for a Saturday or Sunday afternoon)
3) A waiter would be lovely.

We're looking to gather every month and a half or so to enjoy some fine examples of cinematic excellence for 5 or 6 hours, and none of us have a residence that can contain us (read: spouses supplied thumbs-down in droves).

Do you have any knowledge of some joints that would be perfect for our little club?

We would also be open for other options (community center that lets us bring in beer?)

established restaurants/bars/cafes in Madrid/Barcelona

mrmarley — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 04:35:13 -0800

I will soon be in Madrid & Barcelona for a long week. I'm looking for established/trusted restaurants/ bars/ cafes in central areas that don't suck, places that aren't too touristy/a rip-off, but enjoy a good reputation for whatever reason, even if expensive. open to any type of cuisine. thank you

Where can we dance to Vonda??

AnOrigamiLife — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 00:53:29 -0800

Do bars like the one on Ally McBeal really exist? Tell me where! Anywhere in the world will do, but it must fit the bill. I'm laid up and watching streaming reruns that don't demand a wealth of bandwidth. And I'm thinking: I'd hang out at that bar! But do such places actually exist?

Vonda belts out songs you know from the piano, sometimes with a trio of rockin' backup singers. The dance floor is usually full--and the people dancing really CAN hear each other speak. The place is clean and there are plenty of tables. It's full of interesting and often quirky people (like the twins!) who have options for good drinks and good food. And it's not in a scary part of town.

Where is it? What's it called? What kind of music? Cover charge? $27 martinis? Paint a picture for me. Anywhere in the world. Go!

[Bonus points for anywhere in SFO. Extra confetti if it sits between Moscone and the TransAmerica building]

Standing room only, but preggo lady still gets a chair

awenner — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 08:34:34 -0800

Are all bars super accommodating to pregnant ladies, or just the ones we go to in Montreal? Every time we've been out to a bar or a show in Montreal -- the kind where you expect to be standing -- my lady friend has always been able to get a seat. Sometimes we have to ask the bouncer, but the bar staff are usually so accommodating that it makes me wonder whether this is official city / provincial policy. (Special kudos to Metropolis, which has been extra awesome in this regard).

So, is this just a Montreal/Quebec thing? It wouldn't surprise me if it is, but what's your experience been like?

I Needs Me a Unicorn Bar (or three)

emilynoa — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 08:46:32 -0800

Tell me about your DC Unicorn Bar. Or finding the Unicorns in a city in general. I know that you have one, and I also know that you will share it with me because this is metafilter and we are all friends. All of us, all the time (!).

It is a magical place; one that is:
-An easy, breezy walk from the metro, preferably blue and/or yellow line.
-Rarely demanding a cover, and if it does it is for a mind blowingly awesome event that makes you a better person for having attended.
-Is full of a diverse assortment of interesting, beautiful hip people, but not so full as to be inaccessible on a Saturday evening. We don't want to be elbow to elbow up in the gin joint.

I find myself in the position to be hosting pre-event events a lot, and would like to have a few back pocket places to suggest as the event event locations. I'd also accept some schooling on finding these places from the wizened among you urbanites.

If the place allows reservations, I will maybe be in your debt forever.

Why do people "go out" so late?

windbox — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 20:23:06 -0800

People in your 20's who like to go out REALLY late: Can you please explain to me the appeal of going out so late? For cultural context, I live in the US and am mid-20's in a major city. The scenario is going out to bars or parties on the weekend. I'm not talking about staying out late, but wondering why people LEAVE so late?

Ideally on a Friday or Saturday night I would leave the house to meet with friends sometime between 7 and 9pm, eating dinner sometime between 6 and 9 - maybe "dinner" and "going out with friends" could even overlap!

However, this ideal is drastically different from pretty much everyone my age who I know who regularly engages in weekend-night-socializing. They seem to prefer leaving between 10pm and 12pm - usually closer to the latter. When making plans, I'll ask what time we should meet and it never ceases to shock me when they respond "oh, probably 10 or 11." Of course, when 11 rolls around and I've been fidgeting with boredom at home for like 5 hours since getting off work, I'll hear that they're actually leaving in ANOTHER half hour. Now it's 11:30 and they've finally confirmed they are ready to go.

What the hell, dude(s)! By the time you get there last call is in 2 hours! I legitimately do not understand this phenomenon. Do people just procrastinate leaving their house? Is it girls in the group who take a long time to get ready? Is it just plain "uncool" to go out before 10? Is starting the night at 9 considered "starting early"? I get that in some cities in Europe and South America people don't go out till midnight or even 1 or 2am, but from what I understand there is a nap involved somewhere during the day, and apparently last call is like, Never.

I'm not asking for advice on how to deal with this or how to find new friends and blah blah blah. I'm just genuinely curious as to what the thought process is here? Especially interested in mefites who "go out" often and actually engage in this ritual every weekend. Especially if you've ever been the plan-maker who actually said "we'll leave at 11pm" - when people like me suggest leaving at 8 or 9 do I sound like an elderly person?

Wishful thinking

villanelles at dawn — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 18:59:08 -0800

Missing the Bay Area but headed to San Diego. What and where should I eat and drink? I grew up in San Diego but haven't spent any time there lately; now for some reason I'm heading across the country to spend a week there, rather than the East Bay I've been missing. What bars and restaurants should I check out so that I don't spend too much time fantasizing about Comstock and Pizzaiolo and Mama's Royal and so on?

I know it's a vagueish question but I'd like to hear whatever comes to mind from people familiar with both places.

Portland for a weekend bromance

thebergfather — Fri, 22 Jun 2012 14:15:34 -0800

Heading to Portland, OR for the first time! Super excited, and could use your help with our special-snowflake travel needs. We are two dudes who live in SF but aren't from SF. We're going to Portland for the Sounders-Timbers game on Sunday, so we are sports fans, but not bros or jocks.

Things we like: microbrew, dive bars, eating fine meats and cheeses, vintage shops.

Our budget is solidly middle class, but we don't like snooty environments. Hipster-friendly, but we mix well with all types.

Where should we go?? We'll be in town tonight through Monday morning.

How to Nashville bachelor party?

denriguez — Tue, 29 May 2012 20:24:11 -0800

Nashville bachelor party. 20 guys. I'm the best man. Help me plan? I have a small army (20 guys) coming in to Nashville this Fri/Sat/Sun for my brother's bachelor party. I've never been to Nashville, so I definitely need help planning this thing.

Here are our constraints:
-Staying at the Marriott Renaissance downtown, and would prefer to avoid lots of driving (although we'll do it if there's something we can't miss)
-Scheduled for a Yazoo Brewery tour at 3:30 on Saturday
-Country scene is A-OK
-No strip clubs

So my questions:
-Where do we eat? At least one semi-nice place (jeans appropriate) that would take a reservation for 20 guys would be awesome.
-What do we do? Anything live and awesome happening this weekend?
-Best bars within walking/stumbling distance of our hotel?

A few other things:
-Is it reasonable to place a to-go order for 20 servings of chicken at a place like Bolton's?
-I'm under no illusion that we'll all be doing the same thing at the same time, so I'm open to lots of options.

Thanks, hivemind!

Craft cocktails in Providence, RI

Conrad Cornelius o'Donald o'Dell — Tue, 29 May 2012 12:51:41 -0800

Craft cocktails in Providence, RI? Looking for any craft cocktail bars in the city that you care to recommend, though especially in the downtown area, if any exist there. Thanks.